The RedHawks (-2) are set to welcome their in-conference counterpart Western Michigan Broncos to Miami (Oh). ESPN+ will broadcast the action and this daytime game is scheduled to get underway at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Western Michigan Broncos at Miami (OH) RedHawks Betting Preview
In this Saturday Mid-American matchup, Miami (OH) is tabbed as the favorite and is currently giving up 2 points. The Broncos are also receiving +110 moneyline odds while the RedHawks are -130. It looks like this game ought to have some live betting possibilities.
The game’s opening line was originally set at -3, but has recently shifted.
The Broncos have gained 0.0 units so far in 2018 and are 2-2 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an Over-Under record of 1-2. The RedHawks are down 2.4 units this season. The team is 1-3 ATS and owns an even O/U record of 2-2.
The Broncos have gone 2-2 straight up (SU) and they haven’t faced any MAC competition yet. The RedHawks are 1-3 SU overall and 1-0 SU in conference play.
The Broncos hope to keep things rolling following a 34-15 win over Georgia State last week where Jon Wassink completed 20-of-25 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns. LeVante Bellamy (121 yards on 21 rush attempts) and Jamauri Bogan (126 yards on 15 carries, one TD) led the ground attack in the win while Jayden Reed (seven receptions, 101 yards, one TD) and Keishawn Watson (three catches, 43 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties.
The Miami (OH) RedHawks just earned a 38-23 win over Bowling Green. The defensive secondary allowed the Falcons to air it out for 300 yards and three touchdowns. Scott Miller had a productive showing in the loss, recording 65 yards on five catches for Bowling Green. For Miami (OH), Gus Ragland completed 10-of-15 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns. Alonzo Smith (164 rushing yards on 19 attempts) and Davion Johnson (19 yards on 10 carries, one TD) mounted the ground game in the win as Jack Sorenson (six receptions, 72 yards, one TD) and Andrew Homer (two catches, 21 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching corps.
Western Michigan has run the ball on 54.6 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Miami (OH) has an overall rush percentage of 50.8 percent. The Broncos have produced 225 rush yards/game and have eight scores via handoffs this year. The RedHawks are averaging 132 rush yards per game and have four total rushing TDs.
The Broncos offense has logged 246 yards per contest in the air overall and has eight passing TDs so far. The RedHawks have put up 181 pass yards per contest and have five total pass scores.
Defensively, Western Michigan appears to have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has allowed 204 rush yards and 166 pass yards per game. The Miami (OH) defense has allowed 198.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 140.5 yards per game to opposing runners. The RedHawks are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 6.45 to opposing QBs, while the Broncos have given up a 7.32 ANY/A.
Offensively, Wassink is up to 698 passing yards on the year. The signal-caller has connected on 58 percent of his 95 attempts with six scores through the air and three interceptions. Wassink’s got a 6.91 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 11.27 over the past two games.
The Broncos will probably try to control tempo by getting the ball into the hands of their running backs. Jayden Reed (239 yards, two TDs) has gotten looks recently, but the RB tandem of LeVante Bellamy (306 rush yards, two rush TDs, nine receiving yards) and Jamauri Bogan (207 rush yards, one rush TD) have been focal points in the Western Michigan offensive scheme.
In the other huddle, Gus Ragland has managed to complete 57-of-102 passes for 615 yards, five TDs and one INT. Ragland’s ANY/A stands at 6.44 for the season and 5.59 over his last two outings.
The RedHawks will also try to control the game’s pace by turning to their backfield. Along with Jack Sorenson (177 receiving yards, two receiving TDs), Alonzo Smith (205 rush yards, one rush TD) and Maurice Thomas (88 rush yards, one rush TD) have gotten plenty of action recently.
These two MAC adversaries did not get a chance to face each other in 2017.
Free Pick: Western Michigan Broncos at Miami (OH) RedHawks
SU Winner – Western Michigan, ATS Winner – Western Michigan
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Notes
Team Betting Notes
The Miami (OH) defense has created 10 sacks on the year while Western Michigan has nine.
The Miami (OH) offense has lost two fumbles in 2018 while the Western Michigan offense has not lost any.
The Broncos offense has recorded five pass plays of 40+ yards, while the RedHawks have accounted for one such play.
The Western Michigan defense has allowed three pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Miami (OH) has given up one such play.
The Western Michigan offense has created nine rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Miami (OH) has created five such run.
The Broncos defense has allowed eight rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the RedHawks have given up one such run.
Miami (OH) was getting 7 points in its last match and the Over/Under going into it was 55. The over cashed and Miami (OH) covered in the 38-23 triumph over Bowling Green.
In its last three games, Miami (OH) is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
Western Michigan was the underdog by 10 points in its previous game and the O/U was 61. The under cashed and Western Michigan covered in the 34-15 victory over Georgia State.
Western Michigan has produced 5.22222222222222 yards per carry over its past three games and 6.2 over its last two.
Miami (OH) has averaged 4.3 yards per carry over its last three outings and 4.6 over its last two.
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